Two Keys: Week 2 Edition

This weeks "2 Keys to the Game" focuses on the upcoming matchup with South Carolina. I have heard the backlash from the Clemson game and am as equally disappointed. However, this game truly is more important. UGA held their own with Clemson so it won't be such an eyesore at the end of the season. Most seasons, our schedule is such a joke that losing to 1 ranked team means losing all games against ranked teams! I think they can regain a lot of respect with beating USC, LSU, and UF. The problem? They have to do it first. 

I know most of the talk is that we are out of it because so many other teams will go undefeated. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. The fact remains it is now only Week 2 and we have heard this talk EVERY year including last season when it went down to the wire before almost all unbeatens lost on the same night! A loss to USC will almost certainly, however, put the Dawgs out of contention. So what are my 2 keys to winning this game? Well, if you have checked out this weeks Looking Forward, you can guess what my keys are going to be!

• RUN DEFENSE! Our defense really needs to come together in this game. The starts with containing the run. This has been a huge part of our 3 straight losses to USC. We are giving up over twice the run yards per game compared with other ranked SEC teams, but more embarrassingly, we are surrendering over 100 yards more per game than their ACC opponents! We will have a hard enough time with their defense, as is. We cannot let their defense catch their breath and be energized in the second half due to their ability to consistently run the ball. Is our defense experienced and talented enough at this point to stop the run and not give up big pass plays? I am not so sure. One thing is for sure, if they don't focus on stopping the run and making USC throw it, we will certainly lose this game. The defense needs to revisit how we tackle in this league and quit worrying about stripping the ball. Nine times out of ten, they are going to just push forward for another 2 or 3 yards rather than coughing up the ball. We can't afford to play in short yardage situations. Plus, imagine yourself as an SEC running back…which situation would you rather be in: "They are going to stand me up and try to strip the ball" or "They are about to Clowney my *** if I touch this ball!"? The defense will take more of a toll on the offense if they beat and punish them for every play!

• TURNOVERS/PENALTIES: There is no excuse. This has to change. We cannot play against Clowney's defense from 1st and 25. We cannot negate every big play with a stupid penalty. We survive this kind of garbage play against most teams because of the immense talent difference. Our record against ranked opponents should be a reflection of a team's chance of winning big games with sloppy play. It has to stop. To win this game, we cannot lose the turnover margin. USC is winning the turnover battle by nearly 2:1 over the last 3 losses. We have to more careful with the ball and force enough pressure on the QBs to force bad throws and bad decisions.

There you have it. My two biggest keys to this week's colossal conference opener versus South Carolina. My fear is that we will fail in both and is one of the main reasons for my prediction of a 4th straight loss against the Cocks.